Accredited graduates
If you hold one of the following qualifications, you can apply for registration as a Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician (MLPAT):
- Qualified Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician Certificate (QMLT) by NZIMLS in one of these disciplines: Donor technician; Phlebotomy; Specimen Services
- New Zealand Diploma in Applied Science (Level 5) from Ara Institute of Canterbury.
How do I apply for registration?
Step 1: Prepare your documents
To make your application for registration as smooth as possible, gather the documents listed below and have them ready to be uploaded as part of your application. You won’t be able to submit your application until all documents have been provided.
The Medical Sciences Council receives an official list from Ara Institute of Canterbury of students who are eligible to graduate, which we use to process registration applications. When you receive your qualification certificate, you must send a certified copy to the Council.
Digitally certified e-qualification
You may provide us with access to your digital qualification certificate through My eQuals.
Certified photocopy
You may provide a certified photocopy of your qualification certificate. A photocopy may be certified as a true copy by a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, or an Officer of the Court.
The name and email address of one personal and one professional referee. Your referees will be asked to complete a reference on the Council template. Please advise your referee to expect an email from us. The form must be returned directly to us from the referee.
Your personal referee must be a person who has known you for one year or more and who’s not related to you.
Your professional referee should ideally be a registered Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician. If you've not practised in a medical laboratory before, you may provide the details of a recent lecturer or employer.
You must provide a certified copy of your passport. If you don’t have a passport, you must provide a certified copy of another government-issued photo ID.
If you’ve ever changed your name, you must provide evidence of your name change(s). This could be in the form of a marriage certificate, birth, or deed poll certificate.
The certificate must be certified as a true copy by a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, or an Officer of the Court.
A criminal conviction check from each country you have lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 16. Your application will not be processed until all checks have been received from the providers specified below.
If you have lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for more than 12 months since the age of 16:
The Council’s provider of Aotearoa New Zealand criminal conviction checks is the Ministry of Justice. You’ll be sent a link via email to apply for this check when your application has been received. The Council will cover the cost of this check.
If you have lived in any country (excluding Aotearoa New Zealand – see above) for more than 12 months since the age of 16:
The Council’s provider of criminal conviction checks is Fit2Work. You’ll need to apply and pay for a criminal conviction check for every country you have lived in for more than 12 months. You can do this using the links below.
International:
https://www.fit2work.com.au/PreEmployment.aspx?id=MSCNZIntPolice&type=o
Australia:
https://www.fit2work.com.au/PreEmployment.aspx?id=MSCNZAFP&type=o
You must provide a current police report from your country of residence and from every country where you have resided for a period of 12 months or more from the age of 16 years. The police report(s) in support of your application must be produced by the National Police Authority for the country, not a local or state office, and sent directly to the Council.
This is completed through our provider Fit2Work - click HERE to go to their website portal and request your police report(s). Fit2 Work will send the report(s) directly to the Council.
If Fit2Work is unable to provide a police report for a country you have resided for a period of 12 months or more from the age of 18 years, you will need to go to the New Zealand Immigration website to obtain a relevant police certificate that is of the standard acceptable to the Council. Applicants are advised that these police checks must be sent to the Council directly from the issuing authority.
If you do not follow this process the Council may not accept your evidence of police vetting.
If you've been or are currently registered with another licensing/registration authority in Aotearoa New Zealand or any other country, you must provide evidence of your registration status with each licensing/registration authority.
If you've been registered with another licensing/registration authority in Aotearoa New Zealand or any other country, you’ll need to provide a Letter of good standing from each authority you’ve been registered with.
The Letter of good standing should state there are no outstanding complaints against you regarding your conduct as a health professional. The certificate must not be more than six months old at the date of your application.
You must pay the required fee when you submit your application. Your application will not be assessed until the fee has been paid.
Step 2: Create a profile and apply for registration
Once you have the above documents ready, you’ll need to create a profile with Te Kaunihera Pūtaiao Hauora O Aotearoa | The Medical Sciences Council (the Council) and complete the registration application form and pay the fee. The How to Register document below takes you step by step through the application process.
Once you’ve completed the registration application form, uploaded all your documents, and paid the fee, the Council will review the information provided. For information regarding the prescribed fees, see this document under Resources:
Step 3: Check your inbox
The Council will contact you if additional information is required. You’ll receive an email, and you may also notice a request on the home page of your portal – check these two places for updates.
Tip: you can also see the status of your application on the ‘My submitted applications’ tab of your portal.
Step 4: Review and decision
Once the Council has received all information required, your application will be reviewed, and you’ll be advised of the outcome via email.
Registration timeframe
Providing your application is received with all the required documentation and the full registration fee payment, we aim for 10 working days to process your application.
I'm registered - now what?
Applying for an APC
You cannot legally work in the Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician (MLPAT) scope of practice in New Zealand unless you’re a registered MLPAT and hold an annual practising certificate (APC) - within the MLPAT scope.
Before you begin working as a registered MLPAT, you must apply to the Council for an annual practising certificate - See the How to Apply for an APC document below for a guide on applying for your APC.
Provisional registration and supervision period
You’ll initially be granted provisional registration and are required to practice under the supervision of a registered health practitioner for a minimum of three months to a maximum of 24 months. During this time, you're provisionally registered. You’ll be asked to provide your supervisor details when you complete your APC application. The Council must approve your supervisor and workplace.
Your provisional period does not begin until your first APC has been issued, and you start practising as a MLPAT.
For more information on working under supervision, refer to the Council’s supervision policy under Resources (Supervision - Medical Laboratory Science): 2019-Aug Supervision Policy.
I'm at the end of my provisional period - what do I need to do?
Obtaining full registration
At the end of your provisional registration period, your supervisor will be prompted to complete a Final Supervisor Report and submit this for review by the Council. Your supervisor must discuss this report with you before submission. Supervisor report templates are available on the resources tab of our website. Resources | Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand
Once the Council has received your final supervisor report and is satisfied with it, full registration and an updated APC will be granted. You must continue to practise under supervision until this is approved.